When it comes to the First World War, you hardly
hear about the African-Americans that fought in the war let alone the amazing
story of the 369th Infantry Regiment of the United States Army, nicknamed the
"Harlem Hellfighters," " Black Rattlers" and the "Men
of Bronze." Formed as part of the New York National Guard as the 15th
Infantry Regiment on 2 June 1913 then called up to federal service on 25 July
1917 for basic training and combat training, the 15th changed to the 369th on 1
March 1918 after it was reorganized.
While in Europe, the 369th Regiment was
assigned to the 16th Division of the French Army due to the segregation
they faced in the American Army.1 They were originally sent to
France to work as a support regiment not a fighting one. France welcome them
with open arms as they need every fighting man they could get no matter what
his skin color was. According to Author W. Little, who was a battalion
commander in the regiment, France had wept over them-wept the tears of
gratitude and love. France had kissed these colored soldiers-kissed them with
reverence and in honor, first upon the right cheek and then upon the left.2
The regiment would see fighting during the Battles of Chateau-Thierry, Belleau
Wood and the Marne Offensive becoming one of the most combat heavy regiments in
the entire American Expeditionary Force. This regiment was also the first to
cross the Rhine river into Germany after the Armistice was signed.
According to Author W. Little, the statistics of our regiment that we were under
fire (in combat) 191 days; that we lost in battle, killed and wounded, about
1,500 men; in that we never lost a prisoner; that we never lost a foot of ground
in defensive operations; that in offensive operations were took every objective
but one, and in that one the fault lay with a failure of artillery support.3
Also 170 men of this regiment for its months of fighting for France received the
French Croix of Guerre and two American Medal of Honors were awarded, one to
the famous Pvt. Henry Johnson. This regiment faced racism and hatred from its
fellow countrymen but to only prove them wrong showing the world that they had
what it takes to fight in World War I.
Works Cited:
1. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers,
(New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4,
page 5.
2. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers,
(New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4,
page 350.
3. Arthur W. Little, From Harlem to the Rhine: The Story of New York’s Colored Volunteers,
(New York: Haskell House, 1974), https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4,
page 11.
Bibliography
Little, Arthur West. From Harlem to the
Rhine: The Story of New Yorks Colored Volunteers. New York: Haskell House,
1974. Accessed February 20, 2019.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015005896116;view=1up;seq=4.
